Budget hearing Monday in Old Lyme

Old Lyme - The Board of Finance will present next year's proposed total budget of $32,934,689, about a 1 percent increase over this year, to residents at a public hearing Monday.

The board preliminarily approved last month a general government budget of $7,865,552, a 2.96 increase over this year's budget, and a capital budget of $673,176, a 0.41 percent increase.

The spending plan for the 2013-14 fiscal year includes beginning to put aside $130,000 over the next several years to purchase two tanker trucks for the fire department; $5,726 more to increase the hours of a social services position; and $17,416 in additional funding for the benefits plan of emergency services personnel. No money is needed next year for the landfill closure project, funded this year at $100,000.

Meanwhile, the Lyme-Old Lyme Board of Education approved a $31,741,789 budget for the upcoming fiscal year, or a 2.36 increase over the current budget.

The regional district's operating budget is expected to rise by 1.6 percent, to $27,709,107. Debt services - for the regional district's payments for projects such as the renovated high school - will rise by 7.9 percent, to $4,032,682. Salaries for certified staff and maintenance costs are expected to increase, while the employee benefits budget would decrease, according to school district budget presentations.

Old Lyme's net share of the budget, which is based on student enrollment, would be $24,395,961. Enrollment is calculated based on Oct. 1 figures and estimated numbers for April 1 based on March data.

The town's share of the school budget may end up being lower than that amount, due to any enrollment changes as of April 1, explained finance board Chairman Andrew Russell.

The finance board will hold a special meeting Monday following the budget hearing.